Snow claims marinas and boats

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BarrenRiver

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with about 20" of snow on top of additional 4" from earlier in the week, storm Jonas left a wide area of destruction at several marinas in Kentucky. Here is a you tube link to a 115' houseboat going down at Jamestown Marina on Lake Cumberland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIXGM3CbGKc

parts two shows more damage to the marina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SsjhgSjC7I

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I did not see any snow in either of the videos. ???

George
 
quote:
Originally posted by gcolton

I did not see any snow in either of the videos. ???

George

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It's all that white stuff on the roof of the sheds. Plus it's all over the back ends and top decks of the boats in those videos.
 
The wood-framed, sheet metal covered slips do not fare well with that much snow; not surprised by marina damage.
 
Two questions: When are people going to learn not to keep their boats under those flimsy structures in areas where it snows, and where are all the concerned boat owners trying to salvage their boats ?
 
Is there a published standard of care owed by a marina to its occupants in such a case of heavy snowfall? First year law school torts would say "reasonable care under the circumstances," this being a bailment, but what would that really mean? Is there a minimum load rating for the roof of a "reasonably constructed covered dock" or an affirmative duty to try to knock off snow before it gets too heavy?

Just wondering. I couldn't find much in an online search.

V/R
 
My boat is also in Jamestown Marina where Male Order sank. So far Clocked Out is still floating but she has a new metal roof on her. Being 230 miles away sucks, don't think I will be able to get there until Saturday.

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What could you really do anyway? It seems like it would be dangerous to try and get under there. You would think the marina would not let anyone try and get into their boats until they can get some equipment to remove the fallen roofs.
 
Well, If I had a boat there and it was under one of the few remaining roofs that were still standing but snow covered--I'd get it the heck out of there.
 
Agreed, but to those that are under collapsed roofs, looks like there is little you could do.
 
what a shame for all - hope all those years of paying insurance pays off!!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory S

Well, If I had a boat there and it was under one of the few remaining roofs that were still standing but snow covered--I'd get it the heck out of there.

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I DOUBT the Marina would let you near your boat......it would be a LIABILITY that they would not allow.

Good luck
 
The guy shooting the video got very close to damaged and undamaged docks. He could have ferried owners out to the undamaged docks and let them move their boats.
 
Gregory S..and whose to say when they cut the ropes to get their boats out, she's what holding everything up and it all comes down on them...
 
You know, a big boat like that looks like it could have supported the weight of the collapsed structure, even with the snow load on the roof. A large portion of the boat isn't covered by the roof. If the snow was wet to begin with, and followed by rain making it even wetter and heavier, I would think a case could be made that the snow load on the boat itself, and not necessarily the collapsed structure, was sufficient to lower the freeboard such that one or more through hull openings that would normally remain above the water line were submerged. Those particular circumstances sunk two boats at a marina near me a few years ago.
 
If you look at the pictures of Male Order you will see that the structure of the dock pushed against the starboard side of the boat tipping it to the port side. It seems to me that it got pushed down on the port side and that is what caused it. This happened in Missouri a few years ago. I have a 18x80 houseboat and would never keep it under cover in an area that could get that type of snow.

I have no idea how much snow weighs, but I put 2,000 lbs of granite counter tops in my boat a few months ago and it did not change the resting trim of the boat at all. And, yes, I did measure all four corners before and after.
 
Barren River, I didn't say people should remove boats from beneath the damaged structures, but I did say the ones on undamaged docks under snow covered roofs should be removed before they are lost too.
 
quote:
Originally posted by BarrenRiver

Gregory S..and whose to say when they cut the ropes to get their boats out, she's what holding everything up and it all comes down on them...

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That's the liability that the Marina would want to avoid.

Why risk your life over your boat ??
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory S

The guy shooting the video got very close to damaged and undamaged docks. He could have ferried owners out to the undamaged docks and let them move their boats.

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That's not the responsibility of the guy shooting the video.....to ferry people over and put them in harms way. Why would HE take the risk of being involved in a lawsuit ???
 
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